Coming Home (1978)

Coming Home Poster

The wife of a Marine serving in Vietnam, Sally Hyde decides to volunteer at a local veterans hospital to occupy her time. There she meets Luke Martin, a frustrated wheelchair-bound vet who has become disillusioned with the war. Sally and Luke develop a friendship that soon turns into a romance.

Film Overview
"Coming Home"( 1978 ), directed by Hal Ashby, is a poignant drama that checks out the consequences of the Vietnam War on American society and its veterans. The film includes exceptional performances by Jane Fonda, Jon Voight, and Bruce Dern. The narrative follows the story of a marine captain's wife and a paralyzed Vietnam War veteran, emerging as a profound commentary on the physical and mental toll of war.

Main Plot
The movie starts with Sally Hyde (played by Jane Fonda), who is married to the hard-headed marine Captain Bob Hyde (Bruce Dern), volunteering at a regional medical facility for veterans. Her spouse has actually been deployed in Vietnam, leaving her lonely and worried about his security. Here she experiences Luke Martin (Jon Voight), a former high school associate of hers who has returned from the Vietnam War as a wheelchair-bound paraplegic.

As Fonda starts to invest more time at the medical facility, she grows near Martin and acquires a deep understanding of the gruesome truths of war through his experiences. Martin, feeling alienated from the society that sent him to war, is drawn to Hyde thanks to her understanding nature and compassion. Their friendship ultimately blooms into love, turning Hyde into a singing critic of the war.

Character Development
Luke Martin's character is particularly poignant as the disillusioned soldier expressing the unfiltered realities of war, paralleling Jon Voight's own political activism versus the Vietnam War. The movie does an impressive task of showcasing Fonda's change from a naïve better half supporting the war to an antiwar activist who learns to include herself in life beyond her partner's shadow.

Return of Bob Hyde
The narrative takes a considerable turn when Bob Hyde returns house from the war unannounced and discovers his other half's affair with Martin. Traumatised by his experiences in Vietnam and the shock of his spouse's cheating, a disoriented Hyde becomes self-destructive. His character uses an awful insight into the predicament of many soldiers returning home from the warfront, not able to adapt to typical life.

Crucial Analysis
"Coming Home" is applauded not only for its extraordinary performances but also for its thought-provoking take on the Vietnam War and its deeply human exploration of love, loss, and individual development. The movie raises questions about the war, the divide in between civilians and veterans, and the need for society to comprehend and take care of its returning soldiers. It takes the audience into the lives of those directly impacted by the war, painting a stark however essential image of its physical and emotional expense.

Awards and Recognition
Upon its release, "Coming Home" was both a crucial and commercial success. It got 8 Academy Award nominations, winning 3-- Best Actor for Voight, Best Actress for Fonda, and Best Original Screenplay. The movie stands as a culturally crucial and historically relevant piece of movie theater, shedding light on a troubled period in American history.

In conclusion, "Coming Home" is a powerful film that goes beyond the surface-level glamour of heroism in war, diving into the harsh truths of the people included and the consequences of their involvement. Its psychological impact remains long after the film ends, making it a must-watch for any movie lover.

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